The flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has warned that Ghana’s development would be at risk, if the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is voted back into power, after it ‘wasted’ 19 years in government without any significant progress. “If the NPP have had the 19 years, we would have transformed Ghana radically that it would not be in the state the NDC left it in 2001.” Addressing hundreds of party supporters on Friday at a rally at Bukom in the Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region to celebrate this year’s annual Homowo, he emphasized: “The value of Ghana today is not the same as it was in 2001 and this is due to the good works done by the NPP government.” He reiterated that the NPP has “the men and the leadership” to deliver a prosperous nation, hence the need to entrust the governance of the country into the hands of the NPP. Nana Akufo-Addo called for peace and unity; before, during and after the December elections in order to sustain Ghana’s democracy. He therefore called on all peace-loving Ghanaians, especially political parties, to accept the outcome of the elections, adding “there is no need for us to shed blood”. The presidential candidate said Ghana is regarded as “the beacon of hope for the African continent towards its march for development”; as it goes to the polls, the rest of the continent would be looking up to it to keep the pace of peace. Nana Akufo-Addo also stated that the NPP government has no intention of rigging the 2008 elections, on the basis that it has defeated the NDC twice in elections even when the NPP was in opposition and asked “why should we rig the elections?" Speakers after speakers at the rally told the teeming supporters reasons why the NPP government should be maintained. The party’s parliamentary candidates for Greater Accra Region were introduced to the people. Members of the party were also charged to move from house to house and have personal interactions with the people to win more votes for the NPP. Story by Isaac Essel